Chief Executive

Music Mark

Start date 
1st August 2026

About the Organisation

Music Mark is The UK Association for Music Education. It is a membership organisation with a growing membership of over 500 Individual and Organisational Members drawn from across the sector, including music services, Music Hubs (England), schools, music conservatoires, universities, individuals, together with a growing number of Industry Partners, which include retailers, exam boards, and music resource suppliers.

Music Mark is a leading advocate for music education with good links into the UK Government and governments of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. In the past two years the Chief Executive has met Dame Margaret Hodge as part of the review of Arts Council England, given evidence to the Education Select Committee in the House of Commons, chaired a task and finish group on teachers terms and conditions for the Welsh Local Government Association, and contributed to and chaired a panel in the cultural ‘tent’ at the 2025 Labour Party Conference.

About the role

At a time of significant change for education and the arts, we are seeking a new Chief Executive to lead the organisation into its next phase of influence and impact. As Chief Executive Officer, you will be the public face and strategic leader of the organisation. You will shape a new organisational strategy, strengthen Music Mark’s national influence, and build effective relationships with government departments, cultural bodies, funders, and sector partners. You will represent the membership at the highest levels and advocate persuasively for a high-quality, inclusive music education for all children and young people.

We are looking for a credible and collaborative leader with senior experience in education, public policy, the cultural sector, or a related field. You will be an outstanding communicator and relationship-builder, comfortable engaging with ministers, civil servants, cultural leaders, and practitioners alike. Most importantly, you will bring a strong commitment to equity, access, and the value of music in the lives of children and young people. This is a rare opportunity to shape national thinking and policy in music education and to support a sector that directly benefits hundreds of thousands of young people across the UK.

Responsibilities

Membership:

• Regularly consult the membership to ensure that they are well supported, connected, and have influence.
• Work with the Music Mark team to provide a package of membership benefits that are valued, current, and relevant.
• Promote the benefits of music education on behalf of the membership regionally, nationally, and internationally.

Advocacy & communication:

• Advocate for the work of Music Mark by championing the work of members to key stakeholders, policy makers, and decision makers.
• Act as a trusted advocate for the sector, producing well-informed articles & blogs, contributing to key meetings, and speaking at/attending relevant conferences.
• Work closely with Music Mark’s Researcher to commission (profile existing) research that supports Music Mark’s advocacy work and explores new opportunities and initiatives within music education.
• Build and maintain relationships with key partners, including the Department for Education, Parliamentary Groups that support music education, and the Welsh
• Local Government Association, Creative Scotland, and the Music Education Partnership Group (Scotland), and oversee and develop the relationship with Music Mark’s Industry Partners.

Management:

• Oversee the day-to-day management of the organisation, including:
  • Line management of the Membership and Operations Director
  • and the Programmes and Engagement Director.
  • Taking responsibility for financial management.
  • Overseeing charity and company compliance.
  • Managing risk.

Financial Resilience:

• Nurture the partnership with Arts Council England, who support Music Mark as an Investment Principles Support Organisation (IPSO) for its work in England.
• Ensure the financial resilience of Music Mark by understanding the future financial needs of the organisation and seeking out opportunities to fulfil them.

Skills, Competencies, Experience & Attributes

• Putting the case for music education persuasively to politicians and policy makers at a national level.
• Bringing together the membership behind a strategy for positive change in the sector.
• Supporting, enabling and developing an experienced team of staff.
• A core belief in the importance and value of music education for all children and young people.
• Valuing the diversity in the music education sector.
• Understanding current music education policy across the UK.
• Advocate within and on behalf of the music education sector.
• Deliver effective and inspiring online and in-person presentations to stakeholders in a wide range of forums, including members, other music education organisations, Arts Council England, and local and national governments.
• Build high-level networks and relationships with a large group of stakeholders, including members, funders, policy makers and educators.
• Experience in providing oversight of the day-to-day running of an organisation, including financial management, business planning, governance, compliance, risk and performance management.
• Supporting and contributing to the development of policy nationally.
• Developing and writing the strategy for Music Mark in conjunction with trustees, staff, members and external stakeholders.

Compensation & Benefits

• Home working allowance paid to staff. 
• Access to a NEST Pension: 5% employee, 3% employer contributions.

Working locations

• Home-based
• Regular UK travel and occasional overseas engagement.

How to apply

• To apply, please complete the Application Form. Please also complete the optional Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Monitoring Form.
• If you have any questions about the application process, please email [email protected].
• If you would like to arrange an informal conversation with the Chair of the Board of Trustees before submitting your application, please email Peter Smalley at [email protected].

Interviews

• There will be the option for an informal online meeting with the current Chief Executive for shortlisted candidates on 16th & 17th April 2026.
• First interview: Monday 20th and Tuesday 21st April 2026 (online, approximately one hour)
• Meeting with some of the Music Mark team observed by a Trustee: Monday 27th April 2026 (online)
• Second interview: Tuesday 28th April 2026 (London, whole day)

Policies

This document is intended as a guide to the general duties of the role and may be amended. An offer of employment will be subject to contract. Music Mark is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds and communities. We particularly encourage applications from candidates from backgrounds currently under-represented in the education, arts and cultural sectors, including people from ethnically diverse backgrounds, disabled people and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

We will make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process for applicants who require them. Music Mark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Music Mark operates safer recruitment practices and may carry out online searches of shortlisted candidates as part of its due diligence process.

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